It’s been ten years since ‘Man of Steel’ laid the foundation stone for the now nearly extinct DC Universe, but Zack Snyder’s movie continues to be as controversial as the first day for reasons that continue to open debates day in, day out, and that do not convince everyone… including Henry Cavill himself.
kryptonian smile
In an interview with ScreenRant, the actor who brought Superman to life confessed that the 2013 film contains a detail that he deeply regrets. Something that he wishes he had resolved differently and that haunts him every time he sees the scene that contains it. Pay attention, because it is not what it seems.
“There’s a scene at the end of Man of Steel. I’m talking to Martha. I would have smiled differently. Every time I see him, I think, ‘That smile is annoying.’ I just don’t like it. Why did I smile like that? I don’t smile like that. I would have done it differently.”
If before reading Cavill’s statements your mind went instantly to the moment when Kal-El snaps Zod’s neck in which, without a doubt, it is one of the most controversial passages of superhero cinema in recent yearsIt’s nothing unreasonable. The interpreter also gave his opinion on the decision in question, justifying it dramatically.
“Zod’s death gave the character a reason not to kill again. Superman falling to the ground and screaming afterward…I don’t think it was in the original script, but I wanted to show the pain he was in. I did much more emotional shots than not. They chose, the tears were streaming. He just killed the last member of his species. That’s the choice he made at that moment, and he would never make it again.”
For good Henry, that moment opened up a huge possibility to continue exploring the figure of a tremendously particular Superman.
“There’s an opportunity for growth after that, to explore the psychology of Superman as a seemingly invulnerable, god-like being, but with real feelings inside.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, we will never get to see it, since the red cape will pass to other hands by the hand of James Gunn in the next ‘Superman Legacy’, who is already looking for his leading actor —with Nicholas Hoult hoarding a good number of ballots—. We’ll see what the future holds for the new and fledgling DCU.
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